The world is not complicated; one simply needs a simple heart. Simplicity is not rudimentary, but rather the serene and profound stillness of the ocean at noon. It does not mean mediocrity, but the vast expanse of a plateau in late autumn. Simplicity does not reject romance or elegance; it merely maintains a sense of emptiness amidst the noise and recognizes that plainness is as valuable as gold in the midst of trends. By shedding complexity and artificiality, simplicity flows like water over a mountain, smoothing out the stickiness of life, melting rigid moods, and bringing vitality to a noisy world.
Nature is rich and diverse. It gushes out as a spring, accumulates as a pool, plunges down as a waterfall, or gathers hundreds of rivers into a sea. The same mountain may rise uniquely from the ground or stretch out vast and desolate. The same tree may have leaves that exude mist or roots strong enough to split stones. The same Dongting Lake may experience roaring winds and turbulent waves or bright spring scenery with calm waters. The same Red Cliff on the Yangtze River may feature white egrets crossing the water where light meets the sky, or high mountains and small moons where water recedes to reveal stones.
Life is a form of endurance. The beauty and ugliness, the good and the bad in life, exist only in our own inner perception. It is not life that gives us many troubles, nor is it society that imposes many pressures; it is the numerous selfish thoughts and distractions within our own hearts. For many things, if we endure a bit and yield a bit, they will pass. We need not fight for every inch. Life is a dream lasting a hundred years; view it more lightly, be more open-minded, be more composed, and life will become much easier.